More Than a Leap of Faith

Dozens of Bay County residents are jumping 9,000 feet from a plane for charity. They're skydiving to help raise money for Parkinson's Disease.

It's called Parachuting for Parkinson's. About 22 people got to experience the jump of their life.

A plane's engine is firing up at Quincy Airport and it's the first time Lisa Kern is going skydiving.

"A little nervous. Just get me out of the plane safely and on the ground," said Kern.

Kern is part of a group that's Parachuting for Parkinson's. The idea is to raise money for Parkinson's Disease research.

"Everybody else does walk-a-thons. They do marathon events. Mostly that's what's being done. We wanted something different and we couldn't think of anything more different than this," said Lori Switala, the event coordinator for Parachuting for Parkinson's.

For a little more than $200, people went skydiving for charity.

Switala began this event last year by partnering with the School of Human Flight at Quincy Airport. She says this event has a personal connection.

"My husband was in a car accident about 10 years ago and he was the passenger. Hit the right side of his head. Got a very bad concussion and it immediately triggered Parkinson's," said Switala.

Now Switala and others are trying to find a cure by raising money and jumping 9,000 feet out of a plane with a parachute.

"If it's on your bucket list, it's going to a good cause. It's just something cool to do," said Kern.

It's a once in a lifetime landing that's leaving many wanting to skydive again.

Portions of the money raised will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation which supports Parkinson's Disease Research. This year Parachuting for Parkinson's has raised more than $5,000.

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